In 2002, PlayGround launched its first full-length play commissioning programs, the June Anne Baker Prize and the PlayGround Fellowship. The June Anne Baker Prize, established by PlayGround supporter John H. Gilman in memory of his late wife, honors the top female playwright each year, representing a gifted new comedic or political voice for the stage, and includes a full-length play commission. The PlayGround Fellowship honors a distinguished PlayGround alumnus and also includes a full-length play commission. PlayGround additionally awards three Alumni Commissions per year to previously commissioned PlayGround playwrights. The resulting new works are presented as public staged readings as part of The Best of PlayGround Festival.
In 2006, PlayGround launched its Commissioning Initiative, through which PlayGround expanded its commissioning efforts to five per year (now six per year) and began supporting full production through strategic partnerships and a co-production fund.
2012 Staged Readings
Monday, May 7at 7pm: Altair by Evelyn Jean Pine, directed
by M. Graham Smith
Sunday, May 13 at 2pm: Ecce Homo by Jonathan Luskin
Monday, May 14 at 7pm: Manic Pixie Dream Girl by Katie May,
directed by Jon Tracy
Sunday, May 20 at 2pm: Siren by Daniel Heath, directed
by Raelle Myrick-Hodges
Monday, May 21 at 7pm: The Shakespeare Bug by Ken Slattery,
directed by Jessica Heidt
Sunday, May 27 at 2pm: Drive Thru-Open till Midnite or Later by Mandy
Hodge Rizvi, directed by Molly Noble
– no advance reservations required; $10 donation at door.
June Anne Baker Prize
2012: Robin Lynn Rodriguez
2011: Mandy Hodge Rizvi
2010: Diane Sampson
2009: Erin Marie Bregman
2008: Lauren Yee
2007: Evelyn Pine
2006: Brady Lea
2005: Geetha Reddy
2004: Maria Rokas
2003: Martha Soukup
2002: Kristina Goodnight
PlayGround Fellowship
2012: Crish Barth, Ignacio Zulueta
2011: Jonathan Luskin, Katie May
2010: Cass Brayton, Malachy Walsh
2009: Tim Bauer, Ken Slattery
2008: Daniel Heath
2007: Molly Rhodes
2006: Tom Swift
2005: Aaron Loeb
2004: Kenn Rabin
2003: Trevor Allen
2002: Garret Jon Groenveld
Alumni Commissions
2012: Cass Brayton, Garret Jon Groenveld, Katie May, Diane Sampson
2011: Daniel Heath, Evelyn Jean Pine, Ken Slattery
2010: Erin Bregman, Geetha Reddy, Tom Swift
2009: Trevor Allen, Daniel Heath, Brady Lea
2008: Trevor Allen, Brady Lea, Evelyn Jean Pine
2007: Garret Jon Groenveld, Geetha Reddy, Martha Soukup
2006: Garret Jon Groenveld, Aaron Loeb, Geetha Reddy